Vibration and massage apparatus



May 11, 1948. P. L. BUCY 2,441,394

VIBRATION AND MASSAGE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 7, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 11, 1948.

P. L.BUCY

VIBRATION AND MASSAGE APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 7, 1945 u R W l an May 11, 1948. P, L BUCY 2,441,394

VIBRATION AND MASSAGE APPARATUS FiledFeb. 7, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 11, 1948 uNiTEo smi es PATENT hpplicationl ebruary'i, 194s,:seria1-1vo.;51s,s9s

' s Claims. (!..128-53) This invention relates to therapeutic, appara tus and pertains more particularly to .improve-' ments in machines for imparting vibration *to, and .efiecting the stimulation of, the human body. It is well-known to :the medical profession and others that regular :and systematic "movements of the muscular andother tissues of the body are essential to the? maintenance of proper health, because :of :the fact that by this means there is maintained 'throu'ghzthe tissues .a proper :circulation of blood for 'the supply rot nourishment to the cells of which the tissues iarelmade up and also by such means, the waste products of the tissues, such as broken down cells and the like, are removed trom'the system. In those .persons who are physically fit regular -exercise is essential toaccomplish these results and where aperson becomes nervously exhausted so that the taking of continued exercise-is not ieasible, a wasting and weakening of the muscles rapidly occurs so that the condition of such person becomes progressively worse. a

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus whereby vibrational and stimulating movement may be given to all parts of the body without the necessity of the .indiyidualhavin'g' to exert any effort; "so that nectingtheybody'with the power unit ofthe apthe muscles andtissues will be vibrated and 7 Worked as though the :person were indulging in active physical exercise, so that the massaging actions necessary to the maintenance ofpro'per c'irculation'and body tone arerxobtained.

Another object of the inventionis' to-provide an apparatus by means of which stimulating massage may be given to the body in a smooth and steady manner and without subjecting the body :to any-sudden ierks-or jarring movement, thereby making it :possibleiior persons in-a greatly weakened condition to be trea'ted- A further object ofthe inventionisito provide anapparatus of the character stated employing a plurality of-straps or belts which are connected with or are incontact with the body', with means whereby a proper degreeof -contact will be maintained between the belt'and the body at all times to thereby prevent sudden jarring or slapping of the body by the belts as the same are-manipulated by the apparatus.

'Still-another object of'the inventionisto-provide-a novel"vibration apparatus in'which a-novel means is employed for connecting the vibration imparting straps with the "power unitof the apparatus so that vibration will be transmitted through the straps to the body simultaneously with the movement of the straps on the body for massaging the same. r I I A still further object or the "invention is to provide a novel body support or table for facilitating the administration ofthe'stimul-ating massagingmovementsto the body the straps' eonparatus, such table or body suppertbeing so constructed as *to hooperate with v-the power unit and straps to maintain therstraps at all times inthg-desired contact withthe body.

Anotherzobject of the invention is to provide in, a vibratingapparatus of the character stated, a novelsupport or .tablefor both the power unit of the apparatus and the patient, whereby the patient will be resiliently supported and such resilient supporting means will addto the vibrating and stimulating effect of the apparatus as a whole. v. 7

@Still another obi ect of the invention is to provide in a vibration apparatus lof-e t-he'character stated, va "table or 'bedih'aving associatedtherewith, at a side thereof, a resilientlysupported bar-across which the movement'imparting-straps connecting the power apparatus with the .patient, are passed and i-by which'they wili be maintained constantly in "the proper eontact ;or connection with the body. v a a Other objects and advantages :of the invention will become apparent :as the description of the same proceeds andxthe invent-ion will be best understood from a consideration 10f :the following detailed-description taken-in :connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification; with ithezunderstanding, however, that the invention i'srnot :confinedito a strict conformity with the showing 10f thendrawings but may be changed or modified so'longM-as such changes '01- modifications mark no material departure from thezsalient features of theinvention as expressediinrthe appended claims.

inthe drawings: V

Figural is'a-viewjn top plan of amassage and wibration apparatus: pco'nstructed accordancexwith the present: invention. 1

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the-table showing a :tfigure thereon and showing portions of thema-ssagingcbelts or straps and one manner ofapplyin githe same' tothe patient.

Figure 3 is a view in top plan of the patient supporting'table minusithelb'oard and-slatted unit which are provided for application 'thereto,

Figure 4 i-s' alongitudinal section of the table taken substantially ensued-me.- 4-4 V of Figure "3.

Figure 5 is 'alsectional View takenTon the line fififof Figure13; 1

Figure s is La sectional view "through" the arm or standard supporting one-end of: the strap supporting bar. Y K

Figure? is a detail section taken on-theline 1-1 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is :a detail perspective or a portion of one end-offithe -table iromwhich thebody supporting unit isremoved. p

'{Figureb isa-wiewin side elevation er the-motor apparatus and base upon which the same is of a body support designed to be mounted in the frame of the table.

Referring now more particularly to the draw-.

ings, it will be seen that, in addition to the vibration or movement imparting straps, the appa ratus of the present invention essentially com,-

prises two parts or units which are designated A and B, the unit A including a power source and the plurality of elements, such asbelts, straps or the like, through which the motion and the vibration impulses, are transmitted to a patient supported upon the unit B.

The unit A which may be referred to as the source of vibration and massaging motion, comprises a suitable base I upon which is mounted an electric motor ll having the usual power or armature shaft [2.

Supported upon the base In in spaced relation and at each of the two ends of the motor H, are the inner and outer bearing standards I3 and M respectively. Each two bearing standards l3 and- !4 supports a zigzag shaft l5 and the inner end of each zigzag shaft I5 is operatively coupled with the adjacent end of the motor shaft l2, by a cone pulley unit 16.

Eachzigzag shaft is made up of the joined angle or obliquely directed arm portions l1 and surrounding the shaft at the ends of each arm portion, are the collars [8. Y a

The crank-shaft [5 has connected thereto the massaging and vibration imparting straps l9 and 20. The straps [9 are directly connected with the arms while the straps are indirectly connected therewith through the medium of an arcuate yoke unit which is generally designated 2! The yoke 2| comprises a central relatively large ring 22 having the diametrical cross-bar 23 which at'their ends extendbeyond the sides of the ring and are connected with quarter rings 24 and relatively small terminal rings 25.

Connected with a quarter ring 24 at each sid of the large ring 22, is a series of rings 26, certain of which are coupled together by the straps 21. At one end of the series is a, small coupling ring 28 which directly connects with the quarter ring 24, and at the other end of the series is the arm connecting link 29 through which an arm I! of the shaft passes. I

In order to prevent undue wear upon the links 29, the arms, which they encircle, are each housed in a bearing sleeve 30, which the link 29 directly engages.

The straps 20 and also the straps l 9 may be made of any suitable material but are preferably formed of woven material such as canvas or the like. At one end, each strap has a buckle 3| attached thereto whereby when the end is turned back and engaged through the buckle, there is formed a loop 32 in which may be engaged one of the rings 26, or such a loop may have connected therewith an end of a spring 33 which has its other end connected with a ring, as shown in Figure 1. p

The straps I9 which are connected with the shaft arms directly, are of the same construction as the straps 20, having a buckle 34 secured thereto, adjacent to one end, to facilitate the formation of a loop 35 with which an end of the spring 36 may be coupled. The other end of the spring is suitably formed to provide a ring 37 which engages around a sleeve 30.

As shown in Figure 1 the yoke 2| extends across or straddles the motor I I so that when the motor unit is disposed to one side of the patient supporting unit B, the ring 22 of the yoke will be located substantially on the transverse center of "the uIiit B.

In association with the straps I9 and 20 there is provided the relatively wide strap or belt 31 which may be of plain woven fabric or it may have; incorporated in its structure, an electric resistant heating unit 38 to which may be connected an electric current conductor 39 for transferring current from a suitable supply source to theheaterunit' One end of the belt' 31 is passed around a bar 23 of'the yoke ring 22 and secured byfas'tening the turned end to the main body portion of the belt, in any suitable manner, such, .for example, as by the use of a safety pin, designated 40'.

At its opposite end, the belt 31 is provided with the short straps 4|, each carrying a buckle 42 adjacent to its inner end, which, after the belt has been passed around the body of a patient, may be looped around one of the bars 23.

The unit B comprises a rectangular frame 43 having at each corner a supporting leg 44, of substantiallys shape. The bottom free end of each leg is directed parallel with the floor and toward the opposite end of the structure as shown. These legs providea spring-like or resilient support for the frame.

Extending upwardly from each leg 44 toward and secured to the overlying side rail 45 0f the frame 43, is a brace arm 46. I

In each corner of the frame 43 is a plate 4'! having an aperture 48 to facilitate the attachment, as hereinafter described, of connecting elements carried by an auxiliary frame 49. The attaching devices by which the auxiliary frame 49 is supported within the main frame 43, comprise hooks 50 attached to the four corners of the auxiliary frame for engagement in the apertures of the plates 41.

The auxiliary frame 49 is of open construction and may include a web of bands or spring wires 5| upon which theperson receiving treatment lies.

If desired, the hooks 50 at one or both ends of the auxiliary frame may form a part of a turnbuckle 52, by means of which the frame may be pulled tight in the table frame.

In conditions where a solid bedor table is desired, there may be substituted for the'auxiliary frame 49, the solid top body 53, Figures land 2, which is designed to-flt within the frame 43 and which is connected to the plates 41 by, the hook members 54 which are attached tothe'corners of thisbody. v 1 f Extending transversely of the underside of the table and connecting togetherthe legs at the two ends of the structure, are the bars 5.5, with which are connected the ends ofa platform 56 which extends lengthwise of the underside of the table top; Upon this platform .56 the unit A may be mounted,'if desir'ed,'so that'the vibration -or motion transmitting straps I9, 20 and 3Imay be extended upwardly either across the sides of the rails 43, for connection with the bodyof the person receiving treatment,'or through the slatted auxiliary'frame, as may be found most convenient or satisfactory. J

The straps l 9, 20 and 31 are of sufiicientlength relatively firmly :in contact with the bodysofthe personre ceivin g the itreatment so that m0 :jerks or sudden :harsh rmgvements will :be transmitted toisnch body, there is "provided upon one or both sides or :the frame E3 thelongitudinallyextend ing, resiliently supported auxiliary rail "This rail -51 is mounted at its ends upon spring supports 58,-.which are .coupled with the frame rail 45 so that the fbar'.may be raised to an elevation above. the rail Ed tor use.

In using-the apparatus :the person to receive treatment lies upon the topmf the table andthe' severalstraps I9, :28 and 31 are disposed across or connected'with the body at the various parts whichare to receive special attention as illustratedinFigureQ.

Thestraps may be connected with thebody .in anyaof several different ways. For-exampla-ithe motor apparatus or unit A when disposed atone side. of the table unit;B,-wil-l.be in positiontohave theistraps extend directlyunder the patient and theiree ends will. be loopedbackland secured to thebodies of the straps by suitable securing elements :such, ior example, as thesafety pins- 59. When'thez-two units are arranged in this relation, springs 60 are preferably connected between the quarter .circle elements Minearestto the .unit .iB,rand the adjacent side edge of the platiormitii, which is provided with'suitab-ie ap rtured :ears 6l as shown,ior-,this purpose.

Additional resilient massaging action may be provided by arranging the patient support or table unit with the auxiliary rail 51 on the side nearest to the motor unit and passing the several straps over theqtop of .therail-fi-I, when the supports have been swung up to vertical position, so that the straps will bear down on the rail and the resilient supports will yield as'the straps are pulled taut and will raise the :rail and the-straps, as the pull on thestraps, is relaxed.

.As will be readily apparent.zafter the :straps are applied to the vpatientandare 'pulledtightbetween the :pa'tientb body .andthe arm portions to which they are attachedwhen the .zig ;zag shaft is rotated a portion of each arm will be moving away from the patient as the opposite end portion of the arm 'is'moving toward themtient and consequently when the links -29 and 31 are adjacent to the ends of the arms which are swinging away from the patient a slight pull or tug will be applied to the strap and this will be almost immediately relaxed by the slipping of the links lengthwise of the crank toward that end which is swinging toward the patient. This continued pulling and relaxing upon the straps will be repeated with great rapidity as the shaft arm portions rotate and thus a massaging and vibration will be imparted to the patients body. This action when accompanied by the application of heat as through the use of the heated strap or belt 31 will result in great benefit to the person receiving treatment.

Where the motor apparatus is mounted beneath the table, the slatted support 49 may be used and the straps may be extended upwardly between the slats of such support to. pass around the patients body or they may be passed upwardly on the two sides of the table and, by the use of a spring supported rail 51 upon each side of the table, may be passed over such rail. Thus when :the straps :are irurther "tightened or have pullslappliedtheretobythe'cranlc; arms thespring supports :for the rails 51 "will; yield: and such rails will :rise and :tall with 1 the tensioning and melax ing oi the straps. I

The motor apparatus may the placed at different elevations for the most convenient application of the 3 treatment 1 and for this purpose 1 there are provided the :two supporting units shown in Figure 9, each of which is generally designated 6 2 and is-disposed transverselyv of the underside ofthe' base I o-at anendthereof. iEach of these supporting units comprises a top or head bar 63 ofsumcient length to extend across the width oi=the base :10, with an upturned :ea-r 34 at each end designed 'toextend across the-adjacent longitudinai edge 1 of the base- Each of these ears is provided with a threaded opening .ior the reception :of the wing screw'i'65 the free end :of which is directed inwardly toward the :opposite Adjacent each end of the bar $3 is a downturned ear "66 to which-is pivotally attached'the upper end of a leg 61 which at its .opposite or lower end is formed to provide the doot 68.

Also pivotally attached to eachear bfi'ds an end. of a brace rod b-9 which :extends-dowm wardly- :therefrom toward the opposite leg +61 where it is connected with a slide member 1'0, carried on such opposite leg m emberian'd provided with a binding screw H which -engages againsttheadjacent legfi'l so as to hold-the free lower end of the brace rod-'6 9 in sli-dably. adjusted position on the "leg. With this construction it will ber'eadily apparent that ithe lower -ends "ofthe legs may be spread :apart or drawn together to'lower or raise the elevation of the bar163 as desired. P

The opposite longitudinal edges of 'the baseboard in upon which the motor is mounted, are preferably provided with "the longitudinally extending grooves or-channel's '12 in which the inner ends of the wing screws -'65 engage. 'In

this :manner the ends of the bardiii may'befirmly secured to the base and at the same timawhenthe unit is lifted, there is no danger of the screwsslipping off or coming =iree irom co'nnectionwith the'base.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that after the straps Ilrave been placed in operative position as stated, the vibratory movements'imparted to the straps, or the alternate tightening and. relaxing of the straps, by' the machine will impart the desired massaging and vibrating effeet to the body of the person taking the treatment. By reason of the resiliently supported rail 51 across which the straps may be passed, the straps will be maintained under a slight degree of tension even when the pull imparted thereto by the machine is relaxed. Thus it will be seen that there will be avoided the application of sudden pulls or jerks upon the body of the person to which the straps are attached so that the massaging action is at all times smooth and rhythmical.

By reason of the resilient legs for the table, it will also be seen that the patients body will be so supported that outside jars or vibrations will not be transmitted thereto so that the total effect to be obtained is one of soothing gentle vibration and massaging.

I claim:

1. A therapeutic apparatus of the character described, comprising the combination of a table, a long member at a side thereof and resiliently supported at its endsfor movement towardandaway'from the table, a power unit including rotatable elements disposed oblique to'the axis of rotation, and motion imparting flexible straplike bodies connected to the rotatable elements and adapted to pass over and be held taut by said member when connected between the driven elements and a body lying upon the table.

2. A therapeutic apparatus of the character,

described, comprising the'combination of a table frame, a top suspended within said frame and adapted to support a human body, an auxiliary side rail for the frame and resiliently connected thereto for movement toward and away from the frame, said auxiliary rail being normally urged outwardly from the frame, a power unit supported adjacent to said top and including motion transmitting driven elements, and motion imparting flexible, strap-like bodies connected with said driven elements and adapted to extend therefrom across and be drawn taut by the urge of said auxiliary rail to move outwardly, when connected between the driven elements and a body lying upon the table.

3. A therapeutic apparatus of the character described, comprising the combination of a table designed to support a human body, an auxiliary side rail disposed adjacent to and in parallel relation with a side of the table, resilient means connecting the ends of the auxiliary rail with the adjacent side of the table and constantly urging such auxiliary rail outwardly from the table, a power unit supported adjacent to the table and including motion developing driven elements, and flexible strap-like bodies connected to the driven elements and adapted to pass across and be held taut by said member, when connected between the driven elements and a body lyin upon the table.

4. A vibration device of the character stated,

comprising a motor having a rotatable shaft, a zig-zag shaft having a number of portions operatively coupled with each end of the motor shaft and supported to be rotated thereby, a yoke having two ends each connected with a section of said zig-zag shaft, a plurality of motion and vibration imparting straps, and awconnecting means between an end of each strap andsaid yoke, the straps being connected with the yoke throughout the extent of the yoke between its two ends.

5, A-therapeutic apparatus of the character stated, comprising a zig-zag shaft having a plurality of relatively long arm portions, the arm portions extending oblique to the rotary axis of the shaft, a'strap-member designed to encircle the body or a member of a patient under treatment, and a link carried at an end of the strap, and having loose connection with an obliquely angled arm portion, the strap when in use being substantially taut between the arm portion and the body of the patient whereby the arm portion will elfect the alternate tightening and relaxing of the strap.

6. A therapeutic apparatus ofthe character stated, comprising a rotatably supported shaft, said shaft having relatively long joining arm portions disposed obliquely to thelength' of the shaft, means for rotating the shaft, a relatively long yoke member having a link at each end, each of said links having one of two widely separated arm portions passing therethrough, a plurality of straps, and means connecting each of said means connecting the straps with the member at one end to said member, the straps being substantially equidistantly spaced throughout the length of the member.

'7. A therapeutic apparatus of the character stated in claim 6, with a bearing sleeve encirclmg each of the arm portions which passes through a link, the link having loose connection on the adjacent sleeve for sliding movement lengthwise thereof during the rotation of the shaft.

8. A therapeutic apparatus of the character set forth in claim 6, in which one of said straps is of substantial width, and an electrical resistance heater built into the said one of the straps.

PERL L. BUCY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

